Search warrants against developer declared unlawful

Grant Prior 5 years ago
Share

The High Court has ruled that a search of Liverpool developer Elliot Lawless’s home was unlawful.

Lawless is keen to get started on new schemes
Lawless is keen to get started on new schemes

Lawless was arrested last December on allegations of fraud and corruption and his home searched by Merseyside Police.

The police have agreed to settle the claim and will pay Lawless’s costs.

Lawless has strenuously denied the allegations against him which have led to funding problems at his company Elliot Group.

Last month Elliot Group was forced to put three stalled residential tower schemes into administration.

Commenting on the latest development Lawless said: “I am very pleased that the police quickly agreed to settle these proceedings. I have consistently denied any wrongdoing and the allegations made are baseless.

“Today’s agreed order is another major step towards bringing the investigation to a conclusion.

“Hundreds of local workers lost their jobs as a result of the arrest and tens of millions of pounds of investors’ funds are now at risk.

“Prior to my arrest I was in advanced discussions with a number of leading national and international funds, which have since pulled out.

“I shall continue to work with the administrators to see how we can secure best value for our investors.

“I am now going to get back to work, bringing jobs and investment to Liverpool and the wider north west. I have a number of schemes in the pipeline and have instructed my architects and planning consultants to go full speed on these.

“I am keen to begin working with Liverpool council again to develop schemes that will add value to the city and take it forward economically and physically.”

Quashing of the search warrants follows a recent court ruling refusing the police application to extend bail which released Lawless from any bail restrictions.

Lawless added: “As part of the settlement of my judicial review, I have agreed voluntarily to provide relevant documents and electronic records to the police so that they can complete their investigation without further delay.

“Nobody has delivered more new homes in Liverpool than Elliot Group in the last seven years.

“We have built more than two and a half thousand homes across 21 sites, with new hotels, restaurants, bars and other commercial space also brought to market and we have a 100 per cent track record of delivery.

“Up until the arrest on 18th December there were hundreds of skilled local trades at work on our sites delivering thousands more homes for the city of Liverpool.”

Latest news

Six guilty of £2m bribery over Devon housing site deals

Corrupt building bosses and E.ON project chief and QS sentenced
9 hours ago

1,650 former ISG staff launch legal claims

Redundancy Payment Service facing payout of more than £9m
12 hours ago

Delayed £2bn estate rebuild back on as Berkeley signs deal

Birmingham council development agreement paves way for 2028 Ladywood start
16 hours ago

Tilbury Douglas boosts margin to 2.1% as profits double

Firm targets 3.5% margin by 2029 under new business plan
15 hours ago

Subbies battle for fastest bricklayer title

Winchmore management team go back on the tools
15 hours ago

Three arrested in Blu-3 and Mace bribery probe

Serious fraud office swoops over alleged £3m bribes to former Mace associates
1 day ago

Scotland’s most complex A9 dualling job heads to market

Market testing starts for £205m Pitlochry to Killiecrankie 6.4km upgrade
1 day ago

Unite signs £390m student beds JV with Manchester Met

Construction at Cambridge Halls site to start next year
19 hours ago

Turkish contractor Limak to build new Luton Town stadium

Construction to start this summer on 25,000-seater venue
2 days ago

Kitchen fitter crushed to death by concrete blocks

House builder goes into liquidation before court case
19 hours ago

Mears clinches £230m renewal for key Milton Keynes housing deal

Housing upkeep contractor achieves 100% renewal rate in bust rebid period
19 hours ago

Murphy on board at new £32m rail station

Construction to start next year at Golborne station
1 day ago

HS2 engineers finish UK’s heaviest bridge slide early

A46 Kenilworth Bypass reopens 30 hours earlier than planned
1 day ago

Bowmer + Kirkland to build £190m Oxford science scheme

Work to start at end of next month on 180,000 sq ft Fabrica scheme
2 days ago

New BAM leisure centre pool springs a leak

Contractor investigating "technical issues" delaying new £36m green leisure centre
3 days ago

United Living lands £250m HyNet pipeline deal

Firm wins deal to design and build over 34km of pipework to collect CO2
2 days ago

Hydrogen diggers get green light to use roads

JCB hails historic decision for advance of hydrogen-fuelled plant on sites
2 days ago

Go-ahead for McAleer & Rushe Glasgow student job

£100m funding deal paves way for 591-bed student tower
2 days ago

Fly-tippers to get their vehicles crushed

Drones will be used to identify cowboy construction waste operators
2 days ago

Green light for £150m West End office revamp

Shaftesbury Avenue office retrofit retains 75% of original building
3 days ago

Morgan Sindall lands £30m Brunswick Wharf scheme in Bideford

North Devon waterside project will provide 100 flats
2 days ago

Former Keltbray managers jailed after corruption trial

Jail sentences following bribery probe on jobs including Battersea Power Station
3 days ago

Lidl pumps £500m into store and logistics expansion

Discounter plans 40 new stores this year as expansion ramps up
3 days ago

JJ Rhatigan UK profit jumps as turnover tops £150m

Irish contractor's expansion in England gathers pace
3 days ago

Driverless digger to be used on Taylor Woodrow site

Autonomous excavator to work at Manchester Airport after successful trial
3 days ago

MCS Build lands Basingstoke warehouse scheme

Construction starts this month after £26m funding deal
3 days ago

Leeds United unveil stadium revamp design

Club has still to set a timeframe for staged Elland Road upgrade
3 days ago

Bowmer & Kirkland boosts margins as profits surge to £69m

Revenue nudges up towards £1.3bn in year of expansion
4 days ago

Offshore construction starts on £4bn windfarm

Foundations for first of 95 turbines installed: Watch video
4 days ago

AECOM buys civils consultant Allen Gordon

Global giant acquires Scottish water and energy specialist
4 days ago

Contractor services